By Stet Palmer

Without Will and Anne Foster’s contributions of time, funds and professional expertise, there would not be a Legacy Pavilion at Lake Sylvia State Park.

Eleven years ago the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission proposed transferring Lake Sylvia out of the state park system. The community banded together to keep it as a state park and to make it a more valuable park to the state. Part of this effort led to the idea of building a convertible multi-season pavilion that would allow use of the park throughout the year.

Our Friends of Schafer and Lake Sylvia State Parks group did not know of any similar structures in any state parks. Will Foster started the initial plans for the pavilion.

In 2014 FOSLS members committed to building the pavilion. Will brought together the committee and showed us some initial plans. Over the next four years he worked with the committee and state park staff to design a structure that would last for over a century, blend in with the natural setting at Lake Sylvia and meet all of the agency’s requirements.

This turned into a very challenging process, as we needed to meet not only all of the requirements for construction in a forested setting along the lake, but also to make the pavilion accessible and usable for all park visitors.

At the same time as Will was coordinating the pavilion design, we began raising funds for the project. Anne’s very generous support of the project from the beginning served as the seed we needed to guarantee the community’s significant contribution to the state. Without it we would not have been able to move forward.

As Will worked with the state refining the pavilion design, he also presented the project plans to community groups and to state park planners who were attempting to obtain a state recreational grant. When that grant narrowly missed funding, he was a key person who then worked with legislators to obtain other funds for the basic construction.

With the rise in construction costs, it appeared we would have to build a pavilion that would lack key items. Will then went back with FOSLS representatives to obtain additional legislative funds. Without Will’s presentations as the architect, we would not have obtained these funds. Will’s encouragement to the FOSLS committee and optimism are what kept us moving forward.

As the construction started, Will worked with other volunteers to mill lumber from the salvaged trees at the construction site. During the seven months of construction, he worked on-site with the state engineer and construction supervisor to ensure each item of the pavilion was built to the highest quality.

Will and Anne have continued Montesano’s tradition started in 1933, when the community donated the park to the state. Will and Anne’s contributions made the pavilion possible. As it lasts well into the next century, this will be their legacy to our community.

Stet Palmer is past president of FOSLS.